British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday unveiled a four-step roadmap to “lift all legal restrictions on socializing” in England no earlier than June 21, assuming certain tests have been passed.
Why it matters: The UK has the worst coronavirus death toll in Europe, seeing its economy shrink by 9.9% in 2020 – the biggest drop in production in more than 300 years.
- Johnson’s government imposed a nationwide lockdown for the third time in January, as the number of cases increased with the emergence of a new, more contagious variant of coronavirus.
- But the country’s vaccine rollout is among the best in the world – with 26.1% of the population vaccinated since Monday – resulting in a significant drop in infections and optimism that the outbreak will be contained in the coming months.
Details: Prior to each step, the government reviews infection data and ensures that the following four steps are met:
- The vaccine effort program continues successfully.
- Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospital admissions and deaths in vaccinees.
- Infection rates don’t risk an increase in hospital admissions that would put unsustainable pressure on the National Health Service.
- Government assessment of the risks are not fundamentally changed by new virus variants.
If those tests are passed, the phased lifting of the lockdown restrictions does not start until the following dates:
- 8 March: Schools and universities open to all students.
- 29 March: Outdoor sports and mixing in groups of six is allowed.
- 12 April: Gyms, libraries, salons, outdoor catering establishments, all shops and indoor activities for children will be allowed.
- May 17: Indoor entertainment and attractions, indoor organized sports, 30-person outdoor limits, some major events with capacity limits, and international travel (subject to review) will be allowed.
- 21st of June: There are no legal restrictions on social contact – nightclubs are reopening and larger events are allowed.
What they say: “There will be many people who fear that we are being too ambitious and it is arrogant to impose a plan on a virus. But I also believe that the vaccination program has drastically changed the odds in our favor and on that basis we can Now move on, ” Johnson told MPs on Monday.
Read the full plan.